To change DNS on a Steam Deck, switch to Desktop Mode and edit the active Wi-Fi profile in KDE’s NetworkManager settings. Keep the IP address on automatic/DHCP, replace the automatically supplied DNS servers, save the profile, then disconnect and reconnect to Wi-Fi.
This can help when your router or ISP DNS resolver is timing out, filtering domains, or failing to resolve Steam services. It will not increase your internet bandwidth, improve Wi-Fi signal strength, select a different Steam download server, or encrypt all of your internet traffic.
What DNS does on a Steam Deck
DNS, or the Domain Name System, translates names such as store.steampowered.com into IP addresses that the Deck can connect to. Normally, your router supplies DNS servers automatically through DHCP.
Replacing those servers may help if the router’s or ISP’s resolver is unreliable, slow, filtered, or returning incorrect results. DNS is not a VPN: entering a public DNS address does not encrypt ordinary DNS traffic or the rest of your connection, and it does not change your public IP address. Cloudflare supports encrypted DNS through DoH and DoT, but those require separate configuration; simply entering 1.1.1.1 does not enable encryption. See Cloudflare’s resolver documentation.
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Before you begin
- Connect the Deck to the Wi-Fi network you want to change.
- Switch to Desktop Mode.
- Use the existing NetworkManager connection profile; do not create a manual IP configuration just to change DNS.
- Record the original DNS settings or take a screenshot.
- A USB keyboard is optional. The graphical method works without one.
These instructions were checked on August 16, 2026. SteamOS and KDE updates can move controls or slightly change labels, so look for the connection’s IPv4, DNS servers, or Connections controls if the wording differs.
Change DNS through Desktop Mode
1. Switch to Desktop Mode
- Press the Steam button in Gaming Mode.
- Choose Power.
- Select Switch to Desktop.
This follows Valve’s standard Steam Deck power-menu route; see the Steam Deck help guide if your menus look different.
2. Open the Wi-Fi connection settings
- Click the Wi-Fi or network icon in the Desktop Mode system tray.
- Open its settings control or connection menu.
- Select Configure Network Connections.
On some SteamOS/KDE builds, you can instead open the application launcher, search for System Settings, and open Network or Connections.
3. Edit the active Wi-Fi profile
- Select the SSID currently connected to the Deck.
- Choose Edit or Configure.
- Open the IPv4 tab.
Edit the existing profile rather than creating a new one.
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Leave Method set to Automatic or DHCP. Do not change the IP address, gateway, or other manual network fields.
Find DNS servers, Other DNS servers, or a similarly named field. If available, disable or uncheck automatic DNS acquisition, then enter your chosen addresses. For Cloudflare, use:
1.1.1.1, 1.0.0.1Some versions show separate DNS fields or require an Add button. The important combination is automatic IP addressing with manually specified DNS servers. NetworkManager stores DNS servers as properties of the connection profile, as documented in its connection format.
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5. Save and reconnect
- Click Apply, Save, or OK.
- Disconnect from the Wi-Fi network.
- Reconnect to the same network.
- Restart the Deck if the new resolver does not appear active.
Changing the NetworkManager profile causes the networking stack to reload the connection and resolver state.
Should you change IPv6 DNS too?
For a first test, changing IPv4 DNS is the simplest approach. If IPv6 remains active and your network supplies IPv6 DNS information, some applications may still use IPv6-related paths.
Only change IPv6 DNS when you are investigating a specific IPv6 issue and your network supports it. Cloudflare’s IPv6 resolver addresses are:
2606:4700:4700::1111
2606:4700:4700::1001Enter them in the profile’s IPv6 tab, using the equivalent manual-DNS control. Do not disable IPv6 as a universal fix; some networks and services depend on it.
Which DNS server should you use?
| Resolver | Addresses | Useful when | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare | 1.1.1.11.0.0.1 |
General-purpose testing | Performance varies by ISP and location; it is not universally fastest. |
| Google Public DNS | 8.8.8.88.8.4.4 |
Broad availability and general reliability | Its data practices differ from Cloudflare’s; public does not mean automatically private. |
| Quad9 | 9.9.9.9149.112.112.112 |
Malware-blocking DNS | Filtering can occasionally block a domain you need. |
| Router or ISP DNS | Supplied automatically | Local names, parental controls, captive portals, and ISP-specific services | It may be slow, unreliable, filtered, or subject to the ISP’s logging policy. |
Use one provider’s primary and secondary addresses rather than mixing providers without a specific reason. The best resolver depends on reliability from your ISP and location, privacy policy, filtering behavior, and compatibility with your network.
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Verify that the change worked
Graphical check
Return to the Wi-Fi profile’s IPv4 settings. Confirm that automatic address assignment is still enabled, your chosen DNS addresses are listed, and automatic DNS acquisition is disabled or overridden.
Terminal check
Open Konsole and run:
nmcli device showLook for entries such as:
IP4.DNS[1]: 1.1.1.1
IP4.DNS[2]: 1.0.0.1To identify the active wireless interface first, run:
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nmcli device statusThen substitute the device name shown there, rather than assuming it is wlan0:
nmcli device show wlan0Finally, test name resolution:
getent hosts store.steampowered.comA returned address confirms that the system resolved the hostname. It does not prove that Steam’s servers, authentication, ports, downloads, or storage performance are healthy.
NetworkManager can also report states such as none, limited, portal, and full. Those states help separate a DNS problem from a captive portal or broader connectivity failure. See the NetworkManager nmcli documentation.
Optional command-line method
Use this only if you are comfortable with the terminal. First find the active connection name:
nmcli connection show --activeUse the exact Wi-Fi name from the NAME column:
nmcli connection modify "Your Wi-Fi Name"
ipv4.ignore-auto-dns yes
ipv4.dns "1.1.1.1 1.0.0.1"Reconnect the profile:
nmcli connection down "Your Wi-Fi Name"
nmcli connection up "Your Wi-Fi Name"To configure Cloudflare IPv6 DNS intentionally:
nmcli connection modify "Your Wi-Fi Name"
ipv6.ignore-auto-dns yes
ipv6.dns "2606:4700:4700::1111 2606:4700:4700::1001"Reconnect again after the IPv6 change. Do not paste these commands with a different connection name, and do not edit /etc/resolv.conf as the normal first-line method. NetworkManager manages resolver state, so direct edits can be overwritten.
When changing DNS will not fix Steam
DNS only addresses hostname resolution. Investigate other causes if:
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- The Deck cannot authenticate with the router.
- The router, ISP, or Steam is experiencing an outage.
- Ports or services are blocked.
- Downloads are limited by a slow microSD card, disk writes, CPU usage, installation, or decryption.
- The issue affects only one game or server.
Changing DNS will not directly select a different Steam download region or increase bandwidth. Steam’s displayed download speed can fall while it is installing, decrypting, or writing data. Also try the appropriate Steam download-region setting, test another network, compare another device on the same Wi-Fi, and—when possible—try a wired connection. Valve’s network and download troubleshooting guidance specifically notes these factors and recommends reverting custom DNS during diagnosis.
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Captive portals and local networks
Hotels, schools, libraries, airports, and public hotspots may require a login page. A manually selected public resolver can interfere with portal detection or local redirection.
- Restore automatic DNS.
- Connect to the network and complete the login page in Desktop Mode.
- Only then test a custom resolver, if the network allows it.
Custom DNS can also break router pages, Pi-hole or AdGuard Home filtering, NAS and printer hostnames, parental controls, and split-DNS names used by work or school networks. Restore the router or local DNS server if those names stop resolving.
A VPN may override or prioritize the DNS configured in the Wi-Fi profile. NetworkManager supports DNS priority across active connections, with VPN connections receiving special priority behavior. A successful profile edit therefore does not guarantee that every application or VPN uses the selected resolver.
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How to undo the DNS change
Graphical rollback
- Open the same Wi-Fi profile in Configure Network Connections.
- Open IPv4.
- Re-enable automatic DNS acquisition or remove the custom addresses.
- Save, disconnect, and reconnect.
This returns DNS selection to the router’s DHCP-provided servers.
Terminal rollback
nmcli connection modify "Your Wi-Fi Name"
ipv4.ignore-auto-dns no
ipv4.dns ""
nmcli connection down "Your Wi-Fi Name"
nmcli connection up "Your Wi-Fi Name"If the Deck loses connectivity, connect temporarily to a known-good phone hotspot, undo the profile change, restart the Deck, and test the original router DNS. Steam recommends reverting custom DNS while troubleshooting connection or download problems.
Why DNS settings may appear to reset
- You edited a different Wi-Fi profile or connected to another SSID.
- A VPN or privacy tool replaced the resolver.
- The profile did not save successfully.
- A SteamOS or KDE update changed the display or connection workflow.
- You edited
/etc/resolv.conf, which is generated or managed by the networking stack.
Edit the NetworkManager connection profile and verify it with nmcli instead of forcing resolver contents manually.
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